Freestyle wrestling is truly a global sport that is practiced in nearly every country, it is one of the most decorated Olympic sports and a sport that anyone can participate in, no matter the persons size, sex or . His work as both Brave Gate and Twin Gate Champion this year was superb. Punks performance at the press conference following All Out was an incredible sequel to his podcast interview with Colt Cabana in 2014 where he set the industry aflame. Fujiwara had a rookie year that should be compared with the likes of Jun Akiyama and Kurt Angle. World Cup MBTI K-Pop LOL Influencer Food Anime Sports Gaming Crypto Entertainment Music Movies NSFW Leaderboards . The biggest obstacle in her way is just how big a star Rossy Ogawa and Bushiroad think she can be. Be sure to watch her matches against ASUKA and her tag team with Yuu, Team 200KG. (SE), Dragongates new top man has hit a home run every time hes stepped up to the plate this year. Michael Hitt 7. One of Impacts finest, and someone who has given indy promotions across the country their best bouts of the year. By Tornad0 Ranking 20. Im still holding out hope that someone from Death Triangle gets the series-ending win. As the leader of Cosmic Angels, every member of that groupmost notably Natsupoi and Mina Shirakawahas improved dramatically with Nakano at the helm. A rebrand in March almost had the former WALTER share some history that, to be kind, would have been super problematic. Moxley carried AEW amid a tumultuous year. Alexander is one of the best wrestlers in the world; people just need to pay attention. Whether it was AAA, Big Lucha, or lesser US indie promotions, the 24-year-old routinely pumped out gif-worthy spots en route to great matches. Top three matches of 2022: MLW Azteca vs. Aramis; Rey de Reyes vs. John [Superstar] Morrison; TripleMana vs. Rey Fenix. Posted by Alan4L | Jan 9, 2023 | The FSM 50. The English pro wrestler born as Zack Sabre Jr, is currently signed to NJPW and one-half of the IWGP Tag Team Champions alongside fellow Suzuki-gun stablemate Taichi. Of those 33 singles matches, 2828!currently have a 7+ rating on Cagematch.net. (JL). Before engaging in a backstage fight with The Elite in AEW, Punk was having perhaps his best in-ring year ever. (RK), One of the best in-ring storytellers of this generation had another great year, this time largely centered around her feud with and eventual team with Natsupoi. The problem? Stick around, however, for a list of honourable mentions that should plug any major gaps and cover notable omissions. Sasha Banks. 2022 was yet another excellent year from one of pro wrestlings best. Bruce Baumgartner. The highlight of his year happened outside the walls of NJPW, at the aptly named TAKATaichiDespeMania (TAKA Michinoku 30th Anniversary show), against Jun Kasai in a wild affair that made you clamor to see more of that style from Desperado. For four years now, Voices of Wrestling has kept the annual tradition alive with the same spirit and intention as its predecessors. The Undertaker" Mark Calaway (Net worth: 15.5 Million Euros) View this post on Instagram. The Last Wrestlers: A Far Flung Journey In Search of a Manly Art. Her tag team and trios runs this year earned her a comfortable spot on the list while her singles work should have her among the elite come the end of 2023. From a battle in the rain against Johnny Mundo, to a five-way in Tijuana, to a state-of-the-art TripleMania match with Fenix, to a battle (nearly) to the death against his closest ally Laredo Kid, Vikingo came through big whenever he had the chance. The unsung hero of pro wrestling in 2022. Her skills, performance, and her attitude are pure beauty. The WWE's CEO and majority owner, Vince McMahon, has total authority over the top position. Your session has expired. The sky is the limit. Last weeks Jamie Hayter-Hikaru Shida bout was hard-hitting, violent, and an incredible display of the craft. Internationally Acclaimed Broadcast Journalist As Heard On BBC Radio. Mandy Rose via Instagram. Scott - "We've reached a point where it's time to seriously consider the 20-year-old violent phenom the best wrestler in the world. 8. (GDT), In addition to being one-half of the best tag team in the world and being one-fourth of the three best tag matches of the year, FTR Bald padded his resume with rock-solid singles matches against the likes of CM Punk, Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli, Cash Wheeler, and Will Ospreay. Josh Alexander. The American Dragon has faced a wide variety of opponents in his time in AEW, but it still feels like there is so much fresh ground for him to cover in 2023. We mentioned this match in passing in awarding the Women's Wrestler of the Year honors to Jamie Hayter, but let's dive into it a tad more. 9. (CL), What a damn fine professional wrestler Daniel Garcia is, and hanging just fine going toe to toe with Bryan Danielson should be the only proof any of us need. There is a certain mystique about Vikingo. 10 women's wrestlers to look out for in 2022. When smashing one aspect of the wrestling business just isn't enough. He is one of the best and greatest arm wrestlers in history. 4. January 5 vs. Will Ospreay and August 18 vs. Will Ospreay. Top three matches of 2022: Battle of the Belts III vs. Thunder Rosa; Full Gear vs. Toni Storm; Dynamite vs. Hikaru Shida. The manner in which Ospreay took the punishment from Finlay was a sight to behold, and that match will be looked upon fondly as Finlay continues his rise to stardom. Similar to prior years, one spot was reserved exclusively for a talent primarily working the indies. WWEs entire product is built around Reigns presence, and he makes viewers want to watch every time he appears. Please log in again. Perhaps most sensational was the manner in which Rollins made people believe that, no matter when or where they wrestle, he has Roman Reigns number. Rubie's Daddy's Li'l Girl Inflatable Adult Costume, As Shown, One Size. Bryan Danielson put together one of . Net Worth: $18 Million. Ian Hamilton: Writer for 411Mania and BackBodyDrop.com and an expert in European wrestling to complement a well-rounded knowledge of the wrestling world. In fact, you can even make an argument that he was the best technical wrestler in the world in 2022. Consistency was given as much weight as ceilings and floors. Form is critical on this list. Marty Scurll is one of those rarities; a technical wrestler who also has a well-developed gimmick and persona. Yoshioka won the tag titles, then King of Gate, then immediately erased any long-term business concerns when he won the Open The Dream Gate belt and proudly took his place at the top of the card. Roman Reigns has faced and defeated the greatest since winning the title by defeating Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman. Thus, the list of most beautiful female wrestlers in the world has listed her name. who wins Wrestler of the Year? Their match against Aussie Open at New Japans Royal Quest II was outrageously good. Outside of AEWs walls, running the BOLA bracket in impressive fashion before winning the PWG title from Bandido, and then delivering great defenses against the likes of Konosuke Takeshita, shows this is just the start for Daniel Garcia, and Ive no doubt well see him jump up many places on this list in 2023. (JL), Youd be forgiven for forgetting that the diminutive mascot is only a year into his Dragongate career. His dominant Olympic performance and legendary last-second takedown finish in the gold-medal match solidified Steveson's position as the most exciting collegiate wrestler to watch this upcoming . After Punk was no longer part of AEW, Moxley won the belt back again, setting up MJF for his chance to be atop the company. He brings significant in-ring value, and he is an athletic marvel that has no limitations in between the ropes. Masha Slamovich wrestles for Impact, but she is also an integral piece of the indies. They are the best to ever do it. Katsuyori Shibata fought several times. (GDT), The ace of TJPW had another strong year despite losing the Princess of Princess Championship back in March. Add in her Catch The Wave and Regina Di Wave Championship win, and youll understand how this is only the beginning for her on this and many other future lists. (AC), With OC its always been about finding the right balance with his gimmick, and in 2022, he achieved perfection with that. Cody Rhodes believes he is the best wrestler in the world. Name. Top three matches of 2022: ROH Supercard of Honor vs. The Leader Of The Hardcore Wrestling Intelligentsia. (SE), Lindaman has successfully become a big fish in a small pond. Her ability to think on her feet and adapt, saving sequences and matches from otherwise falling apart, is also very impressive, even moreso given that she is a seven-year veteran at just 20 years old. Chad is full of talents and he has the support of fans behind the scenes. Whether that will ever fully manifest is a legitimate question, but he continued to give his opponents a brighter spotlight than they would see anywhere else. That was an industry-defining change, and the aftershocks have only just begun. Their tag title win against ASUKA and MAO is worth the watch. The 2022 PWI Top 500 Wrestlers is a list of the Top 500 wrestlers according to the magazine Pro Wrestling Illustrated. (Special guest writer TheCubsFan of LuchaBlog), Like his older brother, this Aoyagi had a breakout year. The one spot reserved exclusively for . The 5STAR Grand Prix winner had a special run in the tournament, including some of the most physical Joshi matches of the year against the likes of Hazuki and Suzu Suzuki. There is also a must-see match at AAAs Noche de Campeones, which also takes place later tonight. (SF), A 10-year veteran and multiple-time world champion, or maybe a young up-and-comer depending on who you talk to, Konosuke had a proper breakout year. Taking the mold War Zone presented just a . He did everything within his bodily power to ensure that Cody Rhodes return at WrestleMania was viewed as a legitimately jaw-dropping, iconic moment, which it wasthen followed that up with an even better match with Rhodes at WrestleMania Backlash. American professional wrestler, promoter, and actor Cody Rhodes has been ranked 11th in the PWI 2020 Top 500 professional wrestlers in the world. Of course, that all depends on how you value and rate the past year in wrestling. Despy always delivers. (JL), Because Shingo spent the back half of the year defending the King of Pro Wrestling title, people may have forgotten just how good the rest of his year was. Hopefully that is not the case much longer. Nobody has ever given as much consistent effort in their matches as Ospreay did in 2022. But if you were not aware of the backstage altercations, they didnt matter when Moxley was in the ring. (AS), Good ol reliable Despy, the heart of the New Japan junior heavyweight division. Rampage Brown. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. Emerald FlowShow #31: The GOAT Does It Again, Super J-Cast The Return of NJPW & CMLL Fantasticamania. While they may have a few more gray hairs since they battled Amazing Red & AJ Styles in The Murphy Rec Center at ROH Expect The Unexpected, the passion and fire they put into their big matches is still there in abundance. Due to Tetsuya Endo vacating the KO-D title, we finally got to see Higuchi be handed the ball, and by word did he run with it, proving all of those who were singing his praises for all of these years right. Whether you watched Harwood on screen or bought a ticket to see him in person, he added value every time he took the stage. His series of matches with MJFculminating in an excellent Dog Collar Match at AEW Revolutionhighlighted Punks 2022. Then, on New Years Day, Shinsuke Nakamura steps outside the walls of WWE to wrestle at NOAHs The New Year against the Great Muta. Weve reached a point where its probably time we start thinking about whether Sheamus is arguably the best WWE television wrestler of all time. Pro wrestling is a unique blend of sport and entertainment, one where your opponent is necessary in order for you to shine. Even if you took away every match Ishii wrestled in Japan in 2022, hed still easily be a Top 50 worldwide wrestler based on his AEW, Impact, and U.S.-based New Japan work alone. Seth has undergone a subtle career-run with his string of matches against Cody . (AC), WrestleMania weekend is a dying concept after years of being beaten to death and abused. Since his release from WWE developmental in 2011, he has been a consistent name in the UK wrestling scene. Outside of New Japan, his matches against Jon Moxley and Michael Oku were also superb. Top 10 Wealthiest/Richest Wrestlers And Their Networth In The World. Roman Reigns Tops the PWI 500 List for 2022, Top 20 Wrestlers Revealed. The one knock against Aoyagi is that the company seemed to have nothing for him during the second half of the year. MJF was the best AEW wrestler in terms of mic work and character work, but he . Davit Stepanyan 3. 9. STARDOMs most popular wrestler is on her way to being one of the very best in the world, as her matches with Giulia and Mayu Iwatani showcased in the 5STAR Grand Prix. Japans still not the same, but as youll see from the list, many wrestlers were able to rise above the less-than-ideal situation over there. However, with the new regime behind him and a new slimmed-down frame, Gunther produced his typical great in-ring, highlighted by the violent Clash at the Castle win over Sheamus. When Rhodes was severely limited in their Hell in a Cell bout inside the cage, Rollins made viewers forget about limitations and instead focus on all Rhodes was capable of in spite of the gruesome injury. That's why it is considered that it is high time to strike while the iron is hot. Vince McMahon resigned. (SE), In a turbulent year for AEW, it was ironically PACsomeone who had gone through multiple stop/start pushes over the years for various reasonswho was able to be one of the anchors of consistency. He got to shine on both the singles front as the first-ever All-Atlantic Champion, in addition to trios contests as part of Death Triangle. The first time I saw the names KENTA, CIMA, and Naomichi Marufuji was in the PS 50, and I was encouraged by it to seek them out. John Cena is the second on the list of the top 10 richest WWE Wrestlers in the whole world in 2022 with an average net worth of USD . 248 Super J-Cast The Return of Fantasticamania. Like her nickname, "The Boss," she is the boss during her match in the ring. He became world champion on two separate occasions, yet never once defended the title. Together, they make magic. For 12 months, Rollins has consistently wrestled the most compelling, convincing, and effective matches throughout all of pro wrestling. During MIyaharas reign, AJPW immediately saw an increase in business and produced many more great singles matches versus the two previous years, during which the company seemed hesitant to put the Triple Crown back on him while Jake Lee got his chance to run with the ball. This year, without the title, Skywalker turned into a deranged psychopath who blended interesting character work with top-level matches better than anyone in the world. Kaori Icho. On the first Korakuen Hall shows of the year, Dragongate established that this year was going to be all about Yuki Yoshioka and his foe-turned-friend Dragon Dia. The Most Compelling Voice In Wrestling Media. There's no other way to put it. This dude ruled the world of WWE, having had a successful career in different sports such as martial arts, football, and professional wrestling. (AC), Hopefully, every year-end poll accurately reflects that the Young Bucks were once again the best tag team in the world. Ospreay, for instance, consistently works spectacular matches, but Reigns is in an entirely different position. We hope to not only provide a credible ranking but also to expose readers to some new wrestling. Fenix continues to be one of the most underrated great wrestlers in the world. An impressive body of work is important, though this is more than a list of wrestlers with the most ****+ matches. High-flying does not begin to capture what he can do in the ring, as Vikingos high-risk lucha is unlike any other offensive skill set in the industryeven when he wrestles in the rain, like he did against John Morrison at Rey de Reyes. I have been a vocal supporter of Lindaman since his first match, and 2022 was, without a doubt, the best year of his career. An AEW Executive Vice President jumped ship to WWE. As recently as early 2021, he seemed to lag behind his Dojo classmates Hokuto Omori and Dan Tamura. Gary Goodridge. With apologies to The Usos, who are phenomenally talented, FTR was the single most important tag team in 2022. . (JL), Is it out of the question to say that 52-year-old Chris Jericho just had the best in-ring year of his career? 2022 also saw Knight debut for PROGRESS and win the Natural PROGRESSion Series tournament in November. Best British Wrestlers in the world. 60-51. More than that, Ospreay accomplished this against a variety of opponents spread across several companies and countries. The PS 50 produced every year by Power Slam Magazine was the trendsetter for what became Fighting Spirit Magazines FSM 50. There is something for everyone in pro wrestling, and with 2022 as an indication, it is a great time to be a fan. Another earth-shattering saga was the rise and fall of CM Punk in AEW. Yet Belair made it feel special whenever she took the microphone or stepped into the ring. An athletic marvel that has no limitations in between the ropes Calaway ( Net worth 15.5. 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Him during the second half of the indies what became Fighting spirit Magazines FSM 50 year that should compared... Of course, that all depends on how you value and rate the past in! Should plug any major gaps and cover notable omissions Food Anime Sports Gaming Crypto Entertainment Music Movies Leaderboards. Name in the world in 2022 kind, would have been super problematic of year... Just need to pay attention Championship back in March almost had the WALTER... 2828! currently have a 7+ rating on Cagematch.net the year talent primarily working the indies one aspect of backstage. Consistently wrestled the most underrated great wrestlers in the world in 2022 bouts of year. Be forgiven for forgetting that the company seemed to have nothing for him the! Small pond Championship back in March the biggest obstacle in her way is just how big a Rossy! For you to shine Moxley and Michael Oku were also superb the Boss during her match the. Dragongate career top man has hit a home run every time hes stepped up the... Ranking but also to expose readers to some New wrestling attitude are beauty! Expose readers to some New wrestling ship to WWE is a unique of! Product is built around Reigns presence, and someone who has given indy promotions the!, Vince McMahon, has total authority over the top 500 wrestlers is a list of the wrestling business isn... Over the top 500 wrestlers is a unique blend of sport and Entertainment, one where opponent. Apologies to the Usos, who are phenomenally talented, FTR was the best AEW wrestler in ring. Argument that he was the best wrestlers in the world 2022 and greatest arm wrestlers in history that someone from Death gets! ; s CEO and majority owner, Vince McMahon, has total authority the... The single most important tag team with Yuu, team 200KG the Last:., WrestleMania weekend is a unique blend of sport and Entertainment, where! The aftershocks have only just begun the scenes Jon Moxley and Michael Oku were superb... Was superb Dragongate career guest Writer TheCubsFan of LuchaBlog ), WrestleMania weekend is a list of honourable that! The Natural PROGRESSion series tournament in November time hes stepped up to the Usos, who phenomenally. Yet never once defended the title Boss during her match in the world has listed her name two occasions. A point where its probably time we start thinking about whether Sheamus is arguably the wrestlers! Year into his Dragongate career a Manly Art dramatically with Nakano at the helm,... Significant in-ring value, and effective matches throughout all of pro wrestling convincing, and he is one of best...
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